Shloka 24
Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)
सौबलस्तु गदां गृहा प्रचस्कन्द रथोत्तमात् | स तस्य गदया राजन् रथात् सूतमपातयत्,यह देख सुबलपुत्र शकुनि गदा हाथमें लेकर उस श्रेष्ठ रथसे कूद पड़ा। राजन्! उसने अपनी गदाद्वारा सहदेवके रथसे उनके सारथिको मार गिराया
Saubalastu gadāṃ gṛhya praca-skanda rathottamāt | sa tasya gadayā rājan rathāt sūtam apātayat ||
Sañjaya dit : Śakuni, fils de Subala, saisissant sa massue, bondit de son char d’élite. Ô Roi, de cette massue il abattit le cocher du char de Sahadeva, redoublant la cruauté du combat en frappant le soutien qui rend possible la lutte, et non le seul guerrier.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war can slide from heroic contest into morally troubling tactics: striking down a charioteer targets the enabling support of a fighter rather than engaging the warrior directly, raising questions about dharma and restraint even amid battlefield necessity.
Sañjaya reports that Śakuni jumps from his chariot with a mace and uses it to knock down the charioteer of Sahadeva’s chariot, disrupting Sahadeva’s ability to fight effectively.